Peri almost rolled her eyes but stopped herself. Jeff was relatively young and had not been in a healthy pack. There was probably a lot about the nature of theCanis lupusthat he needed to be taught.
“It doesn’t matter that I’m of Vasile’s bloodline. A lot goes into the appointment of an alpha, including the former alpha’s will and pack magic. The final decision lies with the Great Luna. Vasile chose Fane long ago. If he hadn’t, then when he died, the bonds wouldn’t have tethered to Fane. If he’d thought I would be the better choice, then he would have made sure to pass his magic to me. But he didn’t, and I agree with him.”
“Fane is so young,” Tyler pointed out. “He’s only, what, two decades old? He’s practically an infant.”
“He’s powerful,” Peri said. “He’s honorable and was raised by two of the most amazing people I have ever known. Does he have much to learn? Of course. But he’s perfectly capable of leading his pack.”
“And what about those who disagree?” Jeff asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
“Then they have the right to challenge,” Lucian answered. “But they do so knowing that he has the right not to just make them submit, but to take their life if he feels it is what is best for the pack.”
“I don’t think any of that is a priority right now,” Thalion, the elf prince, spoke up, and Peri wanted to applaud him. There was no point in arguing if Fane should or shouldn’t be alpha. He was. Period. “Not only do Peri and Lucian need to help with the Romania pack, there is still the matter of the pups and mates in the hands of the Order. All of those are members of the Romania pack and are no doubt feeling the loss. Jacque, Fane’s mate, is enduring this without the help of her mate. These are the things we need to be focused on. We need to be working on a plan to get them free. I think the Order is riding pretty high right now on their recent victory over the deaths of Vasile, Alina, and the Warlock King. Given that, they might make mistakes. It might give us the edge we need in order to reclaim the captured.”
“Thank you, Thalion,” Lucian said. “You’re right and make very good points. Alston is arrogant enough to think we will be falling apart, and though we are hurting, we are not defeated. We will not roll over on our backs and submit. What we are asking now is that each of you go back to your respective homes and gather your warriors in force. It is time we face the fact that this isn’t going to be a quiet battle. The Order is going to force us into the open, and we need to be prepared for that.”
Peri could see the questions burning in the others’ eyes, but she was done wasting time. She felt an urgency she couldn’t explain, and it was telling her to get her butt to Colorado. “We will continue with the original plan to meet in the sprite realm. I will send fae ambassadors to each of you when it’s time.” She looked at Lilly. “Your daughter and grandson are with the enemy, your son-in-law has lost his parents, and you’ve lost your mate. Where is it that you want to be?”
Lilly looked up at Peri. It was obvious she was torn between being the queen that she’d become and the parent she was.
She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. “Cypher passed on his power and memories to me when he died.” Peri wasn’t surprised. It was something that many supernatural races did when a new leader took over. “I am now the sole head of the warlock race. My daughter and grandson have the Colorado pack and the Romania pack, the sprites and everyone else who loves them, fighting for them. I feel that I must be with the warlocks, my people.” Her eyes were filled with confusion, despite her words, as she looked around the group. “Does that mean I’m abandoning Jacque, Fane, and Slate?”
Cindy Morgan walked over to Lilly and wrapped her arms around her. “Anyone who knows you knows that you would never abandon those you love. You do what is needed most. You know that your daughter, Fane, and Slate are going to be taken care of, but without you the warlock race is going to be a mess. That means getting your people through the death of their king and preparing to take on the Order. That is what’s needed most from you. You know we will keep you updated on your child and grandchild.”
“Thank you,” Lilly whispered to her friend. Her voice shook, but her shoulders remained pulled back.
Cindy released her and wiped tears from her eyes. Peri looked away before she let herself give into her own emotions.
“Riven, Ona, and Nissa, would you mind assisting me in getting everyone home?” Peri asked the other fae, who nodded.
“We will return to our kingdom and wait to hear from you as well,” Thalion said as he took Cyn’s hand. “We truly are sorry for such a great loss.” He bowed his head again, then turned to Lilly and bowed his head to her. Then Cyn flashed them from the room.
A moment later, Lucian, Peri, and Cindy and Chris Morgan were the only ones left in the room.
“We aren’t going home,” Cindy said. “The Order has our daughter. We’re going wherever you’re going.”
Peri had known that before Sally’s mom had even begun speaking, and she completely understood. “We are going to Colorado. We need to see how Fane and Decebel are.”
“A son has lost his parents, and his mate and son are in the hands of his enemy.” Cindy sounded every bit the mama bear that she was. “I’m sure he’s not doing well at all. He will need to be surrounded by those who love him.”
“He won’t come back to his pack,” Peri told her. “Not while his mate is in the States.”
“Then we go to him.” Sorin’s voice filled the hall. “I have watched over him his entire life. I need to be with him as much as he needs to be with us.”
Peri turned to see him and his mate, Elle, walking beside him. With them was Adam, Crina, Rachel, Gavril, Wadim, and Zara.
Tears filled Peri’s eyes. She should have known that those closest to Fane would step up. They wouldn’t let him endure this alone. They would walk through the seven levels of hell, carrying him the whole way until he was able to stand on his own two feet. That was pack.
When the group reached the front of the room, Elle walked straight to Peri and wrapped her arms around her. It was not something fae did often—show emotion or embrace one another—but Peri returned the hug of her longtime friend and comrade.
“We hurt with you,” Elle whispered. “It is a pain that will not easily ease, if ever.”
When Elle stepped back, Adam was right behind her. He glanced at Lucian, asking without words if it was okay for him to hug Lucian’s mate. Lucian nodded, and then Adam embraced her even tighter than Elle had.
“I know you,” Adam said quietly. “You are blaming yourself for something you could not prevent or change. You are powerful, Perizada. But you are not a goddess. You have to let yourself grieve without the guilt.”
Peri nodded. “Thank you, Adam.” She appreciated his words, even though it would take a lot for her to believe them.
Each mated pair was either holding hands or had arms wrapped around one another. They were also standing closer together, needing the warmth that came from touch, no matter how small it was. For now, they were a pack without the foundation of leadership, and that was a scary place to be.
